Tympani handle tension rod for drums



Feb. 18, 1969 J. B. THOMPSON 3,427,917

TYMPANI HANDLE TENSION ROD FOR DRUMS Filed May 19, 1966 I N VEN TOR Jessa/441s 5 THOMDfiON wow! .4 TTOQA/Ef United States Patent 3,427,917 TYMPANI HANDLE TENSION ROD FOR DRUMS Josephus B. Thompson, Covington, Ohio, assignor to Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., New York, N.Y. Filed May 19, 1966, Ser. No. 551,385 US. Cl. 84419 1 Claim Int. Cl. G10d 13/04 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tympani handle tension rod and supporting foot for drums in which the handle and rod elements are locked together, against relative rotation, by a press fit between corresponding square portions on both elements.

This invention relates to drum hardware, and particularly to a new and novel construction for a tympani handle tension rod for tuning drum heads.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tympani handle tension rod whose handle and rod elements are looked together, against relative rotation. through a simple press fit, requiring no pin-s, screws, or punching or peening operation, in its assembly.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated in which the tension rod also serves as a supporting foot for the head end of the drum on which it is mounted.

A further object is to provide a combination tympani handle tension rod and supporting foot for drums, that is rugged and sturdy in construction, reliable in operation, easy to assemble, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1, is a perspective view of one-half of a bass drum, showing a plurality of the tympani handle tension rods, which are the subject of this invention, mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2, is a front elevation of the assembled tympani handle tension rod, in its unmounted condition;

FIGURE 3, is a front elevation of the rod element;

FIGURE 4, is a top plan view of the handle element;

FIGURE 5, is a sectional view of the same, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG- URE 4; and,

FIGURE 6, is a horizontal sectional view of the rod element, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURE 2, one of the tympani handle tension rods, that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10.

The device embodies, essentially, two elements, the handle 11 and the rod 18, which are immovably joined, as explained hereinafter, to form the rigid unit 10.

The handle 11 has a collar portion 14, adapted to rotatably seat on a conventional double claw drum hook 25, as seen in FIGURE 1.

The collar 14 has an axial bore therethrough, terminating at its upper end in a square, tapered, counter-bore 16, as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5.

The handle 11 has two diametrically aligned finger grips extending cross-wise of the long axis of the collar 14, with horizontally aligned upper surfaces 12 and 13, separated by a fiat seat 17, centered at the counter-bore 16, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 4.

I 3,427,917 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 As seen in FIGURE 3, the tension rod 18 has a threaded lower end 19 and a headed upper end 20. The threaded lower end 19 is adapted to engage a conventional drum lug 26, as seen in FIGURE 1.

The rod head 20 is square in shape, with each side tapered to mate with the handle counter-bore 16 in pressed-fit engagement.

Reference numeral 21 indicates a cylindrical foot, of substantial height, formed integral with the head 20, and of slightly larger diameter to define a shoulder 27 adapted to bear against the handle seat 17, when the rod and handle are interfitted.

To assemble the device, the rod 18 is inserted through the handle bore 15 with the head 20 seated in the counterbore 16. The foot 21 is then tapped with a hammer to drive the head 20 into pressed-fit engagement with the counter-bore 16.

This locks the handle 11 to the rod 18, against relative rotation, due to the square configuration of the head 20 and counter-bore 16.

No pins, screws, or mechanical punching or peening operations are required to lock the parts together, thus materially reducing the cost of assembly.

The height of the foot 21 is such that its upper end will extend beyond the plane of the aligned upper surfaces 12 and 13 of the finger-grip portion of the handle 11, when its shoulder 27 bears against the seat 17, as seen in FIGURE 2.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, there is seen one end of a conventional bass drum 22, having a head 23 and its associated hoop 24, which is engaged by a series of double claw collar hooks 25, each aligned with a drum lug 26.

As shown, the rod 18 of the unit 10, is passed through the hook 25 and its threaded end 19 screwed into the lug 26. The unit 10 is screwed into the lug 26 until its collar 14 seats against the hook 25. The rod handle 11 is then rotated in either clock-Wise or counter clock-wise directions until the required tension is imparted to the drum head 23, as is well understood by those skilled in the art of drum tuning.

As stated hereinabove, the end of each tension rod foot 21 extends beyond the top surfaces 12 and 13 of the handle 11 of each unit 10. Therefore, when a series of my units 10 are disposed around a drum head hoop 24, as seen in FIGURE 1, a series of feet 21 are provided, upon which the drum may be supported when stood on end.

The drum head and the tension rod handles are held clear of the floor by the feet 21, and are protected from contamination by any dirt or soil that may be on the floor.

It will now be clear that there has been provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

I claim:

1. A combination tympani handle tension rod and supporting foot for drums, comprising,

(a) a collar adapted to rotatably seat, at its lower end,

on a drum-hoop hook;

(b) said collar having an axial bore therethrough, in-

cluding a square, tapered, counter-bore at the upper end thereof;

(-c) a finger-grip portion, formed integral with the collar, extending diametrically cross-wise of the long axis of the collar and having a flat seat, on its upper edge, centered at the counter-bore;

(d) a tension rod having a threaded end, adapted to engage a drum lug, and a square headed end, having tapered sides, angularly inclined to mate with and 3 4 seat in the collar counter-bore in pressed-fit engage- References Cited a t f t 1 th h d d UNITED STATES PATENTS C a 00 p01 ion, orme In egra W1 e ea BI] joined thereto through a shoulder adapted to bear 929175 10/1909 Walberg 844l2 against the finger-grip seat when the head is pressed 5 FOREIGN PATENTS home in t counter-bore; 587,260 4/1947 Great Britain.

(f) said rod being mounted through the collar bore,

with its head in pressed-interlocked engagement with RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

the counter-bore, and its foot extending above the J F GONZALES Assistant Examiner plane of the collar finger-grip portion. 10 

